Gas shut-off valve box



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ifizamzw ATTORNEY June .29 1926.

G. T. MOESCHEN GAS SHUT-OFF VALVE BOX Filed Dec. 2 1925 Patented June 29, 1926.

outrun STAT as 1,590,844 P a rear- G-EORG-E T. MOE$CHENyOF YORK, -N.'Y.

Applicatiomfiled December My invention relates to gas shut-oh boxes, and has for its primary object "to provide certain improvements in the construction of the same, whereby they are adapted for attachment to the exteriors of buildings. with out the necessity for counter-sinking the same *in the wall thereof, and yet at the same time presenting a minimum" of projection as well as an ornamental appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interiorconstructionof the same, economizing space andpresenting a novel means for supporting the operating handle and its parts as well as providing for the attachment of the body of the device to the building wall.

These objects I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had a the accompanying drawings, which E- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the lower portion of the wall of a building, showing my improved valve box associated with a gas main and its cut-off valve, the box also being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary frontelevation of the building wall showing my box applied thereto. I

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through-the box attached to the .Walhtaken on the line III-IH ofFigure 2.

Figure t is a view similar to Figure 3, taken to one side of the same.

Figure 5 is afragmentary view partly in elevationand partly in section of the box, the cable conduit leading therefrom and the operating handle, the latter being shown pulled to position to close the gas valve.

Figure 6 is a iew similar to. :Figure 1, showing a modified construction in. respect to the lead of the operating cable from the box to the gas main.

Figure 7 isan enlargedfront elevational view of my improved box, the cover being shown removed and depending therefrom, the cable being shown led therefrom as in Figure 6.

Figure. 8 is a horizontal sectlonal view taken through the box just above the guide pulley for the cable.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5 of the modification shown in Figure 6.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.

In apparatus of this character, it is the '2) 1925. Serial No. 72,655.

object of ;the same to provide means for operatinga valve disp'ose'din the gas main leading into a building, which may be operated from the exterior of the building by afireman or policeman, quickly to cut ofi the gasffrom the building ,in'fthe'event of fire. v

In the construction shown inFi'guresl to 5,;the reference numeral 1 indicates the front wall of the 'building,'2 tlie'streetga's main, 3 thega-s pipe leading therefrom into the building to the usual meter 4;, and 5 a box containing,& suitable jvalve adapted to be operated to cut off the 'gas "passing through the pipe 3. 'In'this construction leading from the top of the valve is aconduit 6, which at its upper end is connected with a similar conduit 7 by'an elbow 8, the latter passing horizontally through the building ,wallito vthe exterior thereof. Within the elbow 8 is a guide pulley 9 around which passes a wire cable '10 which is adapted [to control a suitable valve in the box 5 whereby a pull'on saidjcable' will operate the valve to close the same.

My improved box comprises a base '11 provided with a lower closing plate 12 and upper rear lugs13,said plate and lugsjbeing apertured to receive screw-bolts 14: adapted to be fastened in the building wall to'attach the base thereto. Theiugs '13;are formed with -horiz'ontal extensions 15 projectingtoward each other and beveled 'on their inner faces-and adapted loosely "to support thereon a handle 16 hereinaftendescribed. The box 11 is formed withan annular forwardly projecting flange 17 against which a front plate*18 abutswhen'in'position, said flange being formed on each side near its lower end with semi-circular depressions 19 "adapted to receive corresponding projections 201011 the interior faced the cover 18,,as'best' seen inFigure 4. At

each upper corner the interior of the box ls provided "with'a cam21, adapted*to be engaged by hooks 22 formed on the interior face of the cover 18, the construction being such that when the cover is applied to the base, the hooks 22 first are engaged under the cams 21, whereupon the semi-circular projections on said cover will fit into the depressions 19 on the flange 17. The back plate 12 is provided with a circular screwthreaded aperture 23 in its upper central portion, the same being interiorly flanged at 24, and provided with a lug 25 in position to be engaged by the tongue'26 of a locking member 27 fixed to the cover 18 and adapted to be operated by a suitable key to lock the cover in position, as readily will be understood. The base 2 also is provided in its bottom wall with a circular apertured boss 28 internally screw-threaded to receive a pipe or conduit 29, shown'in the modified construction of Figures 6 to 9. Disposed immediately above said lug 28 is a guide pulley 30 mounted in ears 31 formed on the interior of the plate 12. The operating cable 10, which extends fronr the valve mechanism in box 5 of my'improved box, is attached'to the handle 16, preferably in the manner shown in dotted lines in Figure l 9. That is to say, said handle is provided with projecting lugs adapted to receive screws 32 whereby a cover plate 33 is attached to said handle, the cable 10 preferably being looped around said screw-receiving lugs and fastened thereon.

It will be noted that the box provides an alternative construction whereby the cable 10 may pass horizontally therefrom through the building wall linto the'conduit 7, and from thence downward in the conduit 6 to the valve box 5, or, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, may have threaded into the lug 28 the conduit29 adapted to receive the cable 10 and lead it down the exterior ofthe building wall to the box 5, which, in this event is located exterior of the building beneath the pavement, as shown in Figure 6, said cable passing over the guide pulley 3O asit is led into the conduit'29.

WVith both of the constructions shown, it will be apparent that in the event of fire in a building provided with my improved 'apparatus, the fireman or policeman who first reaches the building may unlock the cover 18 of my improved box, and by grasping the I handle 16 and pulling thereon to the position shown in Figures 5 and 8, the cable 10 will be drawn to operate the valve in the box 5, instantly cutting oif the flow of gas into the building.

In order that the cover 18 may not become lost when removed from the box, I provide a chain 84, which is hooked at one end into one of the lugs 1a, and at its other end is attached to a staple 35 fixed to the interior of the cover 18. 'IVith this device the cover when unlocked may drop to the position shown in Figure 7 where'it will be retained by the. chain 34 against loss, and may be replaced when desired.

In order that there may be no delay in the opening of my improved box, I provide the same with a look like the fire alarm box locks of the city in which the device is to be used, the result being that as every fireman and policeman carries a key to these locks, he may use the same in opening my improved boxes. In order to indicate the character of the box and its use, I provide the same with a monogram embodying the letters G S 0 indicating gas shut-off.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

LA device of the character described,

comprising a flat base having screw-receiving apertures therein, and an aperture for the passage therethrough of a cable, a shallow annular flange on the front face enclosing said screw apertures, a cover interfitting with'said flange, and a lock for securing said cover to said base. 2. A device of the character described, comprising a base, a shallow annular flange on the front facethereof, hooks projecting inwardly from said flange at one end there of, oppositely disposed depressions in said flange near the other end thereof, a cover adapted to fit over saidflange, cams on the inner face'of said cover adapted to interlock with said flange hooks, projections on the inner face of said cover adapted to register with said flange depressions, and a lock on said cover for securing the same to said base. s

3. A device of the character described, comprising a base, oppositely disposed extensions on the outer face of said base projecting towards each other, a handle adapted to be supported removably by said ex tensions, a 'cable'attached to said handle and passing from the exterior of said base to a valve to be operated, a cover for said base normally enclosing said handle, and a lock for securing said cover to said base.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

GEORGE T. MOESCHEN. 

